Aeroplane motor fuel



Patented Feb. 24, 1925. i .7

UNI-TED STATES 1,521,504 PATENTMOFFICE.

ARTHUR A. BACKHAUS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO U. INDUSTRIALALCOHOL (30., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

AEBOPLANE MOTOR FUEL.

IR'o Drawing.

designed to be used in aeroplane motors,

but is applicable for use in internal combustion motors of all kindsused in flying or for other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a fuel which is especiallyadapted for use in aeroplanes, although it is also applicable for use ininternal combustion engines in general. a

It is necessary that fuels which are to be used in aeroplane motorsshall have great dependability, inasmuch as any uncertainty in theoperation of the aeroplane, by reason of variability in the character ofthe fuel or failure of the fuel to perform its intended work, may bringabout disastrous consequences.

For this reason, it is desirable to avoid using in such fuels largepercentages of petroleum products, inasmuch as com mercial petroleumproducts do not ordinarily have a constant composition, and are usuallycomprised of varying quantities of a number of different constitutents.

It is, therefore, the object of my invention to provide an aeroplanefuel avoiding these disadvantages and taking into account thecircumstances above referred to.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide fuels of the abovecharacter by the use of benzol, and the constituents of which are chosenin such a manner as to obviate any tendency of the benzol to crystallizeout at the range of atmospheric temperatures to which aeroplane motorsare subjected at the varying altitudes in which aeroplanes operate.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detaileddescription thereof contained hereinafter. I

While my invention is capable of being carried out in difierent ways,for the pur pose of illustration I shall describe only certain ways ofcarrying out the same herein.

For example, a fuel made in accordance with my invention 'ma becomprised of: 40- parts by volume of et yl alcohol, 30 parts Applicationfiled June 25,

1918. Serial No. 241,831.

' by volume ofbenzol, 30 arts by volume of aving a specific gasolene ornaphtha gravity of from 52 B6. to 66 136.

The percentages of the above constituents may Vary to some extent, ifdesired. For example, the alcohol may vary from 40 to the benzol from 25to 35%, and the gasoline or naphtha from 30 to 50%, although I haveobtained the best results by the specific composition above given.

- In making the composition I use alcohol having a strength of about 98%or higher, or absolute alcohol, that is alcohol having a strength of atleast 99%. By using an alcohol having a strength of about 98% or higher,the benzol. will be retained in liquid form in the fuel mixture and willnot crystallize out even when subjected to the very low temperaturesfound at high altitudes.

Instead of the ethyl. alcohohhowever, I

may use methyl alcohol or butyl alcohol or any lower monohydric'aliphatic alcohol, that s to say, any monohydric alcohol the boilingpoint of which falls within or is in the neighborhood of the range ofboiling points of the petroleum distillates generally used in motorfuels, and instead of the benzol I may use toluol.

Aeroplane fuels made in the manner described above can be used withgreatest reliability in the operation of aeroplanes, notwithstanding thevaried atmospheric conditions to which aeroplane motors are subjected.

Furthermore, the percentage of light petroleum distillate, that 'isgasolene or above in detail, I wish it to be understood that manychanges may be made. therein without'departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim: 1. A fuel comprising a petroleum distillate, an aliphatic lowermonohydric alcohol having a. strength above about 98%,

- tillate,

about 98%,

and an aromatic hydrocarbon adapted to blend the other constituents.

2. A fuel comprising a petroleum distillate, ethyl alcohol having astrength above and an aromatic hydrocarbon adapted to blend the otherconstituents.

3. A fuel comprising a petroleum distillate, absolute ethyl alcohol, andan aromatic hydrocarbon adapted to blend the other constituents;

4. A fuel comprising a petroleum distillate, an aliphatic lowermonohydric alcohol havin a strength above about 98%, and benzol adaptedto blend the other constituents.

5. A fuel comprising a petroleum distillate, ethyl alcohol having astrength above about 98%, and benzol adapted to blend the otherconstituents.

.6. A fuel comprising a petroleum disabsolute ethyl alcohol, and benzoladapted to blend the other constituents.

7. A fuel composed of gasolcne, an aliphatic lower monohydrie alcoholhaving a strength above about 08%, and an aromatic 1 hydrocarbon adaptedto blend the other constituents.

8. A fuel composed of gasolene,

ethyl alcohol having a strength above about 80 and an aromatichydrocarbon adapted to blend the other constituents.

9. A fuel composed of a major proportion of gasoline, ethyl alcoholhaving a strength above about 98%, and a small proportion of aromatichydrocarbon adapted to blend the other constituents.

10. A fuel comprising from 40 to 60% ethyl alcohol having a strengthabove about 98%, benzol from to 35%, and gasoline from to 50%.

11. A fuel comprising a major proportion of gasoline, a small proportionof benzol and below 45% of ethyl alcohol havinga strength above about98%.

12. A fuel comprising a major portion of gasolene, ethyl alcohol, andbenzol below 30% adapted to blend the other constituents.

13. A motor fuel consisting of a solution of a light petroleumdistillate, benzol and alcohol having a chill point of substantially 32Fahrenheit.

14. A motor fuel consisting of a petroleum product volatile at ordinarymotor temperatures, benzol or an equivalent coal tar distillate andalcohol in solution, without other mutual solvent or blending agent, andsubstantially free from water. Y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR A. BACKHAUS.

Witnesses:

J OHN P. GIsCH'EL, ARTHUR WRIGHT.

